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The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus.

Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you; and

though we have there a substitute of most allowed sufficiency,

yet opinion, a sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more safer

voice on you. You must therefore be content to slubber the gloss

of your new fortunes with this more stubborn and boisterous expedition.

OTHELLO.

The tyrant custom, most grave senators,

Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war

My thrice-driven bed of down. I do agnize

A natural and prompt alacrity

I find in hardness and do undertake

These present wars against the Ottomites.

Most humbly therefore bending to your state,

I crave fit disposition for my wife,

Due reference of place and exhibition,

With such accommodation and besort

As levels with her breeding.

DUKE.

If you please,

Be't at her father's.

BRABANTIO.

I'll not have it so.

OTHELLO.

Nor I.

DESDEMONA.

Nor I. I would not there reside

To put my father in impatient thoughts

By being in his eye. Most gracious Duke,

To my unfolding lend your prosperous ear,

And let me find a charter in your voice

To assist my simpleness.

DUKE.

What would you, Desdemona?

DESDEMONA.

That I did love the Moor to live with him,

My downright violence and storm of fortunes

May trumpet to the world. My heart's subdued

Even to the very quality of my lord.

I saw Othello's visage in his mind,

And to his honors and his valiant parts

Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.

So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,

A moth of peace, and he go to the war,

The rites for which I love him are bereft me,

And I a heavy interim shall support

By his dear absence. Let me go with him.

OTHELLO.

Let her have your voices.

Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not

To please the palate of my appetite,

Nor to comply with heat- the young affects

In me defunct- and proper satisfaction;

But to be free and bounteous to her mind.

And heaven defend your good souls, that you think

I will your serious and great business scant

For she is with me. No, when light-wing'd toys

Of feather'd Cupid seel with wanton dullness

My speculative and officed instruments,

That my disports corrupt and taint my business,

Let housewives make a skillet of my helm,

And all indign and base adversities

Make head against my estimation!

DUKE.

Be it as you shall privately determine,

Either for her stay or going. The affair cries haste,

And speed must answer't: you must hence tonight.

DESDEMONA.

Tonight, my lord?

DUKE.

This night.

OTHELLO.

With all my heart.

DUKE.

At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again.

Othello, leave some officer behind,

And he shall our commission bring to you,

With such things else of quality and respect

As doth import you.

OTHELLO.

So please your Grace, my ancient;

A man he is of honesty and trust.

To his conveyance I assign my wife,

With what else needful your good Grace shall think

To be sent after me.

DUKE.

Let it be so.

Good night to everyone. [To Brabantio.] And, noble signior,

If virtue no delighted beauty lack,

Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.

FIRST SENATOR.

Adieu, brave Moor, use Desdemona well.

BRABANTIO.

Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see;

She has deceived her father, and may thee.

Exeunt Duke, Senators, and Officers.

OTHELLO.

My life upon her faith! Honest Iago,

My Desdemona must I leave to thee.

I prithee, let thy wife attend on her,

And bring them after in the best advantage.

Come, Desdemona, I have but an hour

Of love, of worldly matters and direction,

To spend with thee. We must obey the time.

Exeunt Othello and Desdemona.

RODERIGO.

Iago!

IAGO.

What say'st thou, noble heart?

RODERIGO.

What will I do, thinkest thou?

IAGO.

Why, go to bed and sleep.

RODERIGO.

I will incontinently drown myself.

IAGO.

If thou dost, I shall never love thee after.

Why, thou silly gentleman!

RODERIGO.

It is silliness to live when to live is torment, and then

have we a prescription to die when death